The days of Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane may seem to be long gone but now the rivalry and fierce competition seems to be on the horizon again. For a very long time, Manchester United and Arsenal have been battling to be the best in England but that had gone cold for about four to six seasons. However after a blistering start to the Premiership season, Arsenal are now considered genuine title contenders and will walk onto the pitch at Old Trafford eight points above their host.
The days of Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane may seem to be long gone but now the rivalry and fierce competition seems to be on the horizon again. For a very long time, Manchester United and Arsenal have been battling to be the best in England but that had gone cold for about four to six seasons. However after a blistering start to the Premiership season, Arsenal are now considered genuine title contenders and will walk onto the pitch at Old Trafford eight points above their host.
There may not be any ‘bust-up’ in the tunnel before the match but certainly when the referee blows the whistle it will be all guns blazing for both teams. Last season when Arsenal visited Old Trafford they were eleven points behind the English Champions but twelve months later the scrip has been flipped. Arsene Wenger has a team full of confidence in their ability, playing with maturity and a team that is fearless as they showed at the Signal Iduna Park against Borussia Dortmund.
That win in Germany shows that Arsenal are for real and that pose a serious threat in the title race. The Signal Iduna Park is one of the most difficult places to go in Europe and to leave there with all three points and especially a clean sheet speaks volumes to how Arsenal are playing at the moment. The Red Devils on the other hand may feel hard done by after leaving Spain with just a point against Real Sociedad after creating so many chances but converted none.
After seeing off Luis Suares, Daniel Sturridge, Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus in just seven days, the Gunners must now see off their very own Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and if called upon Javier Hernandez. It’s certainly a big ask of the defence but they will be confident that they handle whatever United has to throw at them.
The Gunners should welcome Mathieu Flamini back from injury to stabilize their midfield while the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud will be expected to carry on their good form. Man United on the other hand will be hoping Michael Carrick Rafael da Silva are fit to play and hoping Rooney and young Adnan Januzaj continue to play well so they have a chance to get all the points.
It shall surely be a fiery encounter in Manchester as Arsenal will be looking to extend their lead while the Red Devils knows that this is an opportunity to make a big statement and to build on their momentum as they seek to climb their way up the table. Arsenal will start as favourites for the first time in a long while at Old Trafford but the Red Devils will be looking forward to it as they seek to prove their title credentials.
Photo: Arsene Wenger (Getty Images)
Yashiema Love
Senior Contributor
GIVEMESPORT Writing Academy
Cell: 862-9107
Email: yashiemalove15@yahoo
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